What’s the earliest you can see anything on a scan ?

[Earlypregnancy]

I’ve only just had a positive test but have been referred for an early scan (internal) as have had a previous ectopic.

I was under the impression you can’t even see anything till 6 weeks but my GP has said they can visualise a pregnancy from 5 weeks ? Is this correct as I don’t want to waste an appt if I’m too early ??!! (Only just 5 w)

@Earlypregnancy I had a scan at 5+3 to rule out ectopic and they could see the gestational sac and yolk thing, no embryo which is normal at that stage. It means they can confirm not ectopic but they can’t confirm the pregnancy is viable without a heartbeat. From what I read before I went for the scan I think sometimes they can’t see anything at that time which can obviously cause quite a bit of anxiety, but its not abnormal, if that were the case I think they would scan you a week later

Thanks I was just getting confused with I think seeing an embryo / hb which is around 6 w I didn’t realise at 5 w they’d be able to see something to indicate it was in the correct place so makes sense now !

I had an internal at 5 weeks and 5 days after an ectopic and saw a gestational sac and yolk sac, no embryo but that was all they needed to see to rule out ectopic. Although with you being so early, depending on when you implanted you could be a few days out from what you think you are, so I would see about pushing it back maybe slightly? If you go too early and they can't see anything it'll worry you that it's another ectopic, but it may just be too soon to be seen.

That’s what was bothering me ! If I go and there’s nothing it’ll be blood tests and stress 😭 I sort of have in mind that I just want to go when I know I’ll get a definitive answer

I went for a scan at 5+3 due to heavy bleeding and pain and we saw a sac, fetal pole and embryo with a heartbeat. My dates lined up with my dating scan, so I think 5+3 is pretty accurate. However, from everything I’ve read, it seems that that’s really unusual. I haven’t heard of anybody else getting a heartbeat at that stage.